Venice - sightseeing plan - map, attractions, monuments, gondolas, accommodation, interesting facts

Evening view of the Grand Canal, Venice

One day in Venice

The statistics are absolute: 90% of tourists visiting Venice only come here for a few hours and do not stay overnight. Moreover, most of those who come with their food and drink do not use the local gastronomy.
I don't think this will change in the coming years. More to say, I don't think it will ever change. Relatively higher prices in the city (both for accommodation and gastronomy), restrictions related to the lack of car traffic and the small size of the city (in fact, most can be seen in one day) make Venice perfect for a day trip.
Almost everything speaks in favor of coming to Venice for one day only… except that in the evening, Venice becomes a completely different city.
During the day in the summer season, the historic center of Venice is very crowded. Rivers of people flow through the streets. Step by step you have to go one after another, slowly, taking care not to step on someone in front of you, and at the same time avoiding being stepped on from behind. This crowd means that not everyone will fall in love with Venice, although it is hard to believe that someone would not like it. The city is so unusual that it is impossible to remain indifferent to its charm.

During the high season in Venice during the day it can get really crowded

In the second half of the day, however, something extraordinary happens when evening approaches in Venice. The streets begin to empty quickly. There is something like a great outflow of people ... the streets seem to get more air, it gets quiet and only single voices can be heard. The sun goes down filling the city with magically warm light, and the water in the Grand Canal glistens with the orange-red glow of the day ending. Lamps in the streets with rickety light gently illuminate the narrow streets, turning Venice into the most romantic labyrinth in the world. Everything decisively slows down and quietens down so as not to disturb the atmosphere of those in love who wander slowly and aimlessly through the streets.

Venice in the evening is a ruthless thief of hearts. According to the statistics, less than 10% of visitors will experience it. It is certain, however, that these 10% of tourists will fall in love with Venice without memory and will remember those moments forever.

"Golden Hour" and the summer twilight over Venice

Visiting Venice

Regardless of how captivating Venice becomes in the evening, I have prepared a plan for a one-day visit.
First a one-day plan will be useful for 90% of visitors to the city.
Secondly nothing prevents it from being useful also for the remaining 10% of tourists ... after all, you can always go for a walk along the same trail in the evening or see what you like the most during the day.
And third? There are no contraindications to convert the proposed plan to your own needs and then follow your own path through Venice.

There is still the matter of discussing the history of Venice ... that is what most readers treat as a crowds of texts and quickly scroll the page 🙂
No no! Not this time! There won't be any long stories or boring stories here!
If someone is hungry for the history of Venice, this is where I refer, for example, to Wikipedia or other medium. There is so much information on the Internet on this subject that duplicating it does not make any sense.
You will find a few curiosities only in the short descriptions of each of the attractions, which - I think - will be much more interesting and will definitely make the use of this guide more enjoyable.

First, however, one extremely important issue that always arises during a stay in Venice ... gondolas!
I did not include them in the itinerary because it is a very individual matter. In addition, the attraction is quite expensive and let's face it, most visitors give up just because of the price.
However, if you would like to go for a gondola ride, plan some extra time for it, in addition to the plan I have described. I will only tell you what to do to get the matter done without overpaying, and at the same time to make using it satisfactory.

Venice - gondola cruise, prices and rules

Gondola cruise through the canals of Venice

Gondolas in Venice they sail on the routes imposed from above. Gondolier mooring at a specific stop he will only drive you around his district. You cannot propose a route to him yourself. Hence the simple conclusion that the places you will sail through depend on the point where the gondola's starting stop is located.
It is not worth renting a gondola in the most crowded places. Due to the crowds, they often waste a lot of time in traffic jams, in the canals clogged with gondolas, and the cruise takes place on time.
If you want to make good use of the cruise time and avoid standing in gondola traffic jams, look for a marina away from the tourist crowds. The canals all over Venice look beautiful, and those off the beaten track are probably even more beautiful (especially after dark, with artificial lighting).

Gondola rental prices in Venice they are rigid and imposed by the city.
As I write these words the standard 30 minute cruise costs EUR 80 and it is price for the entire gondola (not per person). At this price, a maximum of 6 people can take the gondola. Extending the cruise time at the customer's request involves an additional fee.
After dark, the cruise prices are higher: a 35-minute ride costs EUR 100.
Some tourists (especially if there are only two of them) rent a gondola together (e.g. another couple), thanks to which the rental is cheaper. At the moment, renting a gondola joint is very easy, because it can be done online gondola cruises booking sites - [click].
In this way, you buy individual seats in the gondola and, upon arrival, you will sail together with other people who have purchased the cruise in the same way.

The gondola is waiting. Get in and swim!

Entrance tickets to attractions in Venice

It's easy to guess that purchasing tickets to attractions in Venice may be a problem. It is worth thinking about this in advance and securing admission by purchasing tickets online. Where possible, I will provide links to online sales in the descriptions of attractions later in the text. Here I will only draw your attention to city ​​cards – [click] and ticket packages. Sometimes it is worth buying a set of several tickets at once in a package, e.g. with a public transport ticket (vaporetto) or with a gondola ride included in the price.
Below are some sample packages. I provide prices for packages. These are the prices I have seen at the time of writing, and they change frequently. Sometimes there are promotions, etc. Constantly updating prices does not make sense because you can check them in a second by clicking on the links. I recommend checking because maybe there is a promotion?

If the links open in the wrong language or currency, you can change them at the top of the page.

Check it out: Doge's Palace + St. Basilica Brand – [click], (regular price, without promotions and discounts: EUR 59) includes:
– skip-the-line entry ticket St. Basilica Mark
– access to the ground floor of the basilica
– access to the basilica terrace
– access to the Museum of St. Mark
– digital audio guide to St. Basilica Mark
– entry ticket to Doge's Palace
– entry to the Bridge of Sighs
– entrance to the armory
– admission to the first floor of Museo Correr
– entry to the Archaeological Museum
– admission to the National Library of Marciana

Check it out: Doge's Palace and public transport – [click], (regular price, without promotions and discounts: EUR 47) includes:
– entry ticket to Doge's Palace
– entry to the Bridge of Sighs
– entrance to the armory
– admission to the first floor of Museo Correr
– entry to the Archaeological Museum
– admission to the National Library of Marciana
– unlimited use of public transport (ferry and ACTV buses) in Venice
– unlimited use of waterbuses and buses on the island of Lido, the islands of the lagoon, in the districts of Mestre and Marghera

Check it out: Wenecja Pass city card – [click], (basic price without promotions and discounts: EUR 104) includes:
- Doge's Palace (entrance ticket and tour)
- St. Mark (entrance ticket and tour)
- gondola cruise (30 minut)
– digital guide to Venice

Check it out: all city cards in Venice – [click]

Venice itinerary

All roads lead to Rome, but there is practically only one road to Venice (maybe two). Before I go into details, however, I will first provide a map prepared especially for this guide. You'll need it to quickly understand how to get around Venice and while sightseeing. I have marked all the key points of the plan on it: stops, parking lots, the course of the land route, the course of the water route and, of course, the location of all attractions.
In the vicinity of St. Brand, the density of attractions means that the digital markers of attractions do not fit next to each other. This fragment of the map (contains numbers from 7 to 12) was therefore additionally enlarged by me and drawn on a separate map.

I have marked two routes on the map:
- blue dots: show the route you will take by water by vaporetto from the train station to St. Mark. During the cruise, you can enjoy attractions that are best viewed from the water. These are numbers: 3, 4 and 5. We will not return to these attractions by land.
- red dots: show the route to be traveled on your feet. Land attractions start from number 6 and we go successively until number 21.

The total length of the route I propose (of course, this is the part that is to be covered on foot) is 8 km. Someone will say that it's not much, but there are so many attractions along the way that it will take you a long day to visit.
After clicking on the map, its larger version will open, which you can further enlarge.
The numbers on the map, of course, correspond to the numbering next to the descriptions further in the text. For each of the attractions, you will find a short description with a set of practical information (if necessary).

Venice - sightseeing map
background map source: openstreetmap.org
around St. Mark's Square in Venice - sightseeing map
background map source: openstreetmap.org

Most visitors arrive in Venice by train and get off at the train station Venice Saint Lucia. Those arriving by car must leave it in the multi-storey car parks near the Venezia Santa Lucia station. Their starting point for exploring Venice is therefore the same as for those arriving by train.
The second starting point is Fondamente Nove, that is, the waterfront of Venice, which is reached by water trams (line A and line B), transporting tourists by water directly from the airport (the stop is marked on the map). At the same time, there is nothing to prevent you from going on each of these lines and sailing directly to St. Mark, because they both go there as well.
From a tourist point of view, line A is better for tourists arriving by water from the airport because it is shorter and runs the entire length of the Grand Canal (so you can combine the journey from the airport with visiting the Grand Canal from the water level). Line B, on the other hand, flows around the main island from the eastern side and does not affect the Grand Canal area at all.

So I have prepared the itinerary for visiting Venice so that no matter how you get to the city, you can use it. The course of the sightseeing route proposed by me has the shape of a closed loop. You can start your tour at any point in it and by going through the loop in its entirety, you will see all the places I have planned. Simple and effective.
In the patrick, most of you will start your tour from around the Venezia Santa Lucia train station.

Map and itinerary of visiting Venice PDF

I know a lot of people like to have a map with them. Therefore, based on the above maps, I have prepared a special map of visiting Venice to download to your phone in PDF format. The map can be enlarged and scaled, and if necessary, you can open wider descriptions with one click (eg to use GPS coordinates).
The map is adapted to the shape of the phone screen 🙂
A more detailed description of how to use the map can be found here: how to use my PDF map – [click]

WARNING!
Red markers with attraction numbers on the PDF map are active! After clicking on the marker, a short description of the selected attraction will open with GPS data and an active navigation link. Clicking on the navigation link will automatically trace the path to the attraction from where you are.

download Polish .pdf version: Venice - map of attractions, guide, sightseeing plan PDF - [click]

download english .pdf version: Venice – tourist map, guide, sightseeing plan PDF – [click]

Descriptions of sightseeing itineraries

1. Venezia Santa Lucia Station

Venezia Santa Lucia is Venice's main train station. After exiting the train, head outside towards the quay with the Venetian vaporetto terminals: ferry.
Vaporetto is a Venetian city transport that is entirely operated by water. There is no other public transport in Venice as traffic is forbidden in the city. You will travel everywhere by boats, or water trams, called in Italian ferry.
On the waterfront next to Venezia Santa Lucia station there is a vaporetto stop called Railway. The Ferrovia stop consists of several terminals with different lines mooring. You are interested in the terminal Ferrovia "b" where the lines stop: 1 and 2.
To reach the Ferrovia terminal “b”, after exiting the train station, turn left as shown in the image below.

The journey from the train station to the Ferrovia vaporetto stop is short and easy
map background: Google Maps

Both lines of interest to us depart from this terminal (line number 1 and line number 2) that flow to St. Mark. Line 1 has more stops (most on the other side of the Grand Canal), but line 2 will take you to St. Make a little faster.
The fact that Line 1 runs longer (the journey takes around 40 minutes) is not a disadvantage at all. You just have more time to admire and photograph the palaces adjacent to the canal.

So buy a vaporetto ticket at the vending machine or at the ticket office, get on board and try to take a seat in the bow or stern of the boat (both banks of the canal are best seen from these). Begin your Venice adventure with a hard-hitting entry, which is a cruise along the entire length of the Grand Canal (Canal Grande).

WARNING!
You can also buy a ticket for Vaporetto online without having to queue.
Check it out: electronic ticket for Vaporetto – [click]

By paying an additional EUR 1 to the regular ticket, you can buy a vaporetto version of the ticket and bus transport from/to Marco Polo Airport! I am posting the link below.
Check it out: Vaporetto Pass – [click]

Vaporetto terminal, Ferrovia stop "b", GPS coordinates:
45°26’28.0″N 12°19’19.4″E
45.441097, 12.322061 - click and route

2. Canal Grande (Grand Canal)
Canal Grande, Venice

The Grand Canal is nothing but a strait that divides Venice into two parts. It is 3,8 km long and has the shape of an inverted S letter. From the point of view of communication, it is the most important communication route in the city, and at the same time the main, representative avenue of Venice. It is no coincidence that it has earned the name of "the most beautiful street in the world".
The most beautiful and famous palaces of Venice stand by the Grand Canal. Their facades face the canal, so it is best to admire them from the water, during a cruise along the canal.
At its narrowest point, the Grand Canal is 30 m wide, and at the widest point it is about 70 m wide. The widest fragment is at the mouth, near St. Mark. The depth of the channel does not exceed 6 m.
There are a total of 170 buildings along the canal, facing the canal. The canal itself was built in the XNUMXth century, and the buildings that we can admire today were built from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century.
During your cruise through the Grand Canal you will see many stunning buildings and it is impossible to list them all. Below, I will only name three that you should try not to miss on your cruise.
It is possible and very likely that you will like other palaces than the ones I have chosen. It does not surprise me at all. Venice is full of amazing works of architecture, created for centuries at the request of fabulously wealthy merchants, burghers and high-born residents of the city.

3. Ca 'd'Oro Palace (Golden Palace)
Ca d'Oro Palace, Venice
photo: Tommao Wang

One of the most famous and recognizable buildings in Venice. Widely present on postcards, promotional materials, souvenir gadgets, it has become almost an icon of the city. Designed not by one person, but by a whole group of the best designers, as a combination of only the best ideas of each of them.
A characteristic feature of the buildings under construction at that time was the construction of a brick wall structure and covering it with lime mortar. In the case of Ca 'd'Oro, a layer of intricately carved white marble was used instead of lime mortar. No wonder that the building still looks fantastic and amazes everyone today.
It is worth realizing, however, that its present condition is only a substitute of what it looked like in its heyday. Originally, extensive sections of the marble façade were covered with gold... hence its name The Golden Palace.
Currently, the Golden Palace houses a museum and state-owned art restoration workshops.
The façade is best seen from the water, so be sure to watch it during your vaporetto cruise.

The appearance of the tenement house in its best years is well illustrated by a painting from 1897 by
Jose Moreno Carbonero, entitled "Ca d'Oro", which is currently in the collection of the Carmen Thyssen Museum in Malaga.

A painting by Jose Moreno Carbonero showing the appearance of Ca d'Oro
source: Wikipedia

Ca 'd'Oro Palace, GPS coordinates:
45°26’26.7″N 12°20’01.8″E
45.440752, 12.333829 - click and route

4. Ca 'Foscari Palace
Ca Foscari Palace (the one on the left side of the frame, on the corner), Venice

Ca 'Foscari Palace was built on the foundation of a former Byzantine palace known as the "House with Two Towers".
The Venetian Doge Francesco Foscari during his reign (1423-1457) decided to commemorate his achievements by putting the palace on the measure of his successes. Obviously, like many other characters who commemorated their successes in this way, he saw his own achievements so great that he planned a building that significantly burdened his financial capabilities and was not without serious problems in its implementation. Eventually, the building was successfully completed. To this day, it remains one of the most impressive buildings in Venice, and its inner courtyard - considering private houses - is almost the largest in the city. It is second only to the courtyard of the Doge's Palace.
Ca 'Foscari Palace is an excellent example of a typical Venetian residence for nobility and wealthy merchants. The houses in Venice were to be used not only for residential purposes, but also (and perhaps even mainly) for commercial purposes. On his example, it is worth taking a closer look at the organization of the building.
The main, representative façade overlooks the central "street" of Venice, the Grand Canal. On the ground floor there is a gate for reloading goods and leading to the entrance hall used for trade negotiations. To the left and right of the gate there were storage and office rooms, and a kitchen to the rear. The living quarters started from the first floor, the central part of which was usually an impressive ballroom.
Currently, the palace is the seat of the University of Venice, which provides visitors with the most beautiful rooms: "Aula Baratto" and "Aula Berengo".
As a curiosity, I would like to add that in 2013, after a series of innovative modifications that preserve the character of the building, Ca 'Foscari Palace received the LEED certificate, awarded to buildings that meet the highest energy and ecological requirements. Currently, it is the oldest building in the world that can boast such a certificate and has overtaken the oldest building to date (Fay House at Harvard University) by over 350 years.
The façade of the building is best seen from the water, so it is worth seeing it during a vaporetto cruise.

Ca 'Foscari Palace, GPS coordinates:
45°26’04.3″N 12°19’36.4″E
45.434536, 12.326782 - click and route

5. Ca 'Rezzonico Palace
Rezzonico Palace, Venice
clicking on the photo will take you to the panorama on Google Maps

The construction of the palace was started by Filippe Bona, on behalf of whom the buildings originally standing here were razed to the ground, leaving only the foundations.
The design of the new palace was entrusted to the architect Baldassare Longhena (author of the Venetian Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute). Unfortunately, during the construction, the Bona family fell into serious financial problems and at the height of the first floor the construction was interrupted for nearly 70 (!!!) years.
In 1750, the unfinished building was bought by a wealthy banker from Lombardy, Torre Rezzonico, and he finally brought the construction to completion. Of course, the original design was developed with new ideas (including a laterally situated ballroom with spectacular stairs), and the most famous artists of the time were invited to arrange and decorate the interior.
Currently, the palace houses the Museum of Venetian Art of the XNUMXth century.

Ballroom in the Rezzonico Palace, Venice

As a curiosity, it is worth adding that nowadays it happened to return to the organization of balls in the palace, similar to those from the era of sumptuous parties, from the heyday of the Venetian Republic. The most famous was probably the charity Bal Fantastica (held in 1969), attended by, among others, Elizabeth Taylor and Aristotle Onasis. Then, in 2005, the former ball was recreated, this time for the film "Casanova".
The façade of the building is best seen from the water, so it is worth seeing it during a vaporetto cruise.
You will find a detailed description of interiors, works of art, frescoes in a well-designed, extensive one Wikipedia article - [click]

Ca 'Rezzonico Palace, GPS coordinates:
45°26’00.9″N 12°19’37.1″E
45.433570, 12.326967 - click and route

6. Vaporetto terminal - San Marco

After a few dozen minutes of vaporetto cruise and admiring Venice from the Grand Canal, you will finally arrive at the San Marco stop. Here you need to get off and start exploring Venice on foot. Head along the coast with the water on your right. This way, after approximately 300 meters, you will reach Venice's main square, St. Mark.

Vaporetto terminal, San Marco stop, GPS coordinates:
45°25’57.1″N 12°20’16.5″E
45.432514, 12.337905 - click and route

7. The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Doge's Palace (on the right), in the background the Basilica of St. Mark

The Doge's Palace is the seat of the rulers (doges) and the government of the Venetian Republic. The palace played this role from the moment it was built (in 814) until the fall of the Venetian Republic (in 1797), which was erased from the world map by Napoleon Bonaparte. Of course, it did not have the shape and form we see today.
By the way, when the French Revolution broke out in 1789, the Venetian Republic was still governed in a despotic and authoritarian manner, remaining in this respect almost in the Middle Ages. No wonder that the ideals of the revolution (freedom, equality, fraternity), the news of which quickly reached Venice, found fertile ground here. When, during the war with Austria, Napoleon invaded the territory of the Venetian Republic, he was greeted as a liberator. Eventually, Venice and most of its subordinate areas were traded by Bonaparte to Austria, at the cost of concluding a tactical peace with it (the so-called Campo Formio agreement).
The Doge's Palace is impressive in size and appearance. Beautiful arcades decorating the ground floor and the first floor of the building's façade make an amazing impression. The building consists of three wings forming the shape of a "square" U letter. Inside there is a large courtyard, which is closed on the fourth side by the wall of St. Mark, which together with the Doge's Palace forms a full, closed rectangle.
The interiors of the palace are amazing, but instead of describing them, I am going to post a panoramic photo below that gives you a better idea of ​​the nature of the interiors than any of my descriptions. Clicking on the photo will take you to Google Maps, where you can rotate and zoom the interior panorama.

Interior of the Doge's Palace.
Clicking will open the panorama on Google Maps

Note that on the upper decorative strip of the Sala del Maggior Consiglio there are images of 76 Venetian Doges, but one of the places where the portrait should be located is obscured by a cuirass. Why? Kir hides a portrait of the Doge Marino Faliero, who was convicted and beheaded for treason against the Venetian Republic (he conspired with the plebeians against the nobility). Due to the betrayal he committed, his face remains veiled to this day.
If you still want to see what Marino Faliero looked like, you can do it by clicking on the link: portrait of Marino Faliero from the Prado Museum in Madrid - [click]

The Doge's Palace is the most crowded attraction in Venice, and entry is ticketed. It's really hard to get in in high season. Buying a ticket on the spot usually involves a very long wait in a huge queue at the cash desk.
In my opinion, the only sensible solution is the purchase a ticket to the Doge's Palace online - [click].

Tickets are sold for a specific day, but there are no fixed times for entry. So you can go inside at any time that is convenient for you.
The Doge's Palace is open from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. but the last visitors are admitted at 17:00 p.m.
It may happen that if you have a ticket bought online in advance, you will still have to wait a while in the queue to enter. There may be a queue here due to security checks at the entrance.

Doge's Palace, GPS coordinates:
45°26’01.2″N 12°20’24.4″E
45.433675, 12.340110 - click and route

8. Venetian Square (Piazzetta San Marco)
Piazzetta San Marco or the Venetian Square. Notice the two columns standing on it ... there were executions between them

On your way to the Doge's Palace from the vaporetto stop, you will first pass the Piazzetta San Marco, affectionately known as the Venetian Square. As you can guess, it's not the main St. Mark, but in a way its vestibule.
The layout of squares and buildings in the most representative part of Venice can be clearly seen in the Wikipedia graphic below. Take a look at her. In a few moments, it will allow you to see the layout of all buildings.

St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) and the Venetian Square (Piazzetta San Marco) - plan of squares and buildings:
a. St. Mark
b. The Doge's Palace
c. Belfry
d. Biblioteca Marciana
e. The Mint
f. Nowa Prokuracja
g. Napoleon's wing
h. Old Prosecution
i. clock tower

Piazzetta played the role of an unofficial meeting place for politicians and… spectators watching the executions. When entering the Piazzetta, pay attention to the two columns standing near the coastal boulevard. It was between them that executions took place, which were usually watched by numerous Venetians.
Before you enter the square, walking along the boulevard along the coast, on your left hand you will pass a very interesting building of the Venetian mint (e). For centuries, Venice had a key influence on the development of trade and had its own currency, which was produced right here. The building's design has been thought out to provide fire protection for the gold and silver deposits deposited in it. Today there is no mint here and the building has become part of the Marcian Library (d), the main building of which is enclosed by one of the sides of the Piazzetta.

Venetian Square (Piazzetta San Marco), GPS coordinates:
45°26’01.5″N 12°20’22.7″E
45.433749, 12.339628 - click and route

9. St. Mark (Piazza San Marco)
St. Mark's in Venice.
On the right, the Old Prosecutor's Office, on the far left wing of Napoleon

When Piazza San Marco saw Napoleon, there was still one of the buildings: Napoleon's wings (g). He called it "the most beautiful salon in Europe" and ordered to build a building linking the Old Public Prosecutor's Office (h) with the New Prosecutor's Office (f). In this way, the Napoleon wing was created, which closed the buildings surrounding St. Mark.
When I was standing in the square with my back to St. Mark, looking towards the Napoleonic wing, I began to wonder if the "most beautiful salon in Europe" would not lose its beauty after adding what Napoleon had ordered? I activated my imagination and came to the conclusion that without the Napoleonic building, the square gave the impression of unrestricted space and the free flow of cool air from over the lagoon, soothing the effects of Italian, harsh sun.
Today, when the summer sun warms up the square, tourists, in the name of Bonaparte's whim, must suffer because of the heat that prevails on it.
I think the architects who designed the square without this building were right. Napoleon was delighted with it, and then made the decision to build, spoiling what was perfect. Despite this, St. The brand still remains a delightful and beautiful place and can still boldly compete for the title of the most beautiful salon in Europe.

St. Mark (Piazza San Marco), GPS coordinates:
45°26’02.8″N 12°20’18.4″E
45.434114, 12.338441 - click and route

10. St. Mark
St. Mark's in Venice… a lot of people are waiting to come in

"Pax tibi Marce, Evangelista meus"... with these words he spoke to St. Angel brand. He appeared to him when the latter, on his way to Rome, took refuge from the storm on a nearby lagoon.
The words the angel spoke meant: "Peace be with you, Mark, my evangelist". Apparently, the rest of the speech was ... "here your body will rest". This is what the legend says, and you might think it was just a legend if not for its consequences.

About 400 years later (in 452), the city known to us as Venice arose on the lagoon where Saint Mark had taken refuge from the storm. More than 200 years passed, and in 697 the Republic of Venice was established. After another 200 years, Venice was already one of the most important centers of trade on the world map.
The city had almost everything to continue to gain importance and expand its influence. However, it did not have an adequately high-ranking seat of church authorities. The time has come to prepare the city for further development and make Venice the seat of the bishopric.
The then Doge Giustiniano Partecipazio took matters into his own hands, and the legend mentioned above came to the rescue. Since the angel himself said that here the body of St. Marek, he should have been helped in that.
The Doge organized an expedition led by perhaps the best navigator of the time: Bono da Malamocco as the captain.
Malamocco got one of the most experienced merchants, Andrea da Torcello, known as "il Rustico", to work as a first mate. The two men on board the galley "San Nicola", accompanied by eight other ships, reached Alexandria before Christmas in 827. On the spot, with the support of two local helpers, they stole the body of St. Mark, smuggled them to the gallery and brought them to Venice.
In Venice, they were greeted by a cheering crowd headed by the Doge Giustiniano Partecipazio.
The road to establishing a bishopric in Venice was already simple. It was even advisable that the city that had the relic of St. The brand had that status.
It was quickly decided to build an appropriate cathedral, which would become the saint's resting place. This is how the construction of St. Mark, where the body of the evangelist rests to this day.

The riding quadriga above the entrance to the basilica

When admiring the basilica, it is worth paying attention to the four horses at the entrance to St. Mark. Made of copper with a purity of 96,67% (some people mistakenly say they are bronze), they were stolen by the Venetians from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. Unfortunately, their size, and hence weight, caused Venetians a lot of problems in transport. To deal with the problem, it was decided to reduce the weight of the horses and divide them into smaller parts, cutting off their heads along with a large part of the neck (more or less at the point where the torso goes to the neck). Then the elements were put together again and the cut was masked, adding tasteful loops around the horses' necks.
After a renovation completed in 1980, which revealed that air pollution severely damaged the sculpture, it was decided to install a copy of the horses above the entrance, and the original was moved inside the basilica, where it can be viewed closely.

The original horses from Constantinople are displayed inside the basilica

There are several other interesting stories associated with horses because they were moved to new places several times and were not only in the hands of Constantinople and the Venetians. Thanks to Napoleon, they were brought to Paris, for some time they were under the protection of Austria, they also visited Rome ... It is interesting that each move brought a spectacular fall of some power:
- the fall of the Byzantine Comnenian dynasty and the end of the glory days of the Byzantine Empire (in 1206 horses go from Constantinople to Venice),
- fall of the Venetian Republic (1797 - Napoleon takes horses to Paris)
- the fall of Napoleon (1815 - horses return to Venice)
- the fall of the Habsburg dynasty and empire (1917 - horses go to Rome, and in 1919 they return to Venice) ... so it looks like two horse rides had to be made to the Habsburgs 🙂

St. Mark, GPS coordinates:
45°26’04.1″N 12°20’21.9″E
45.434461, 12.339416 - click and route

11. The belfry of St. Mark (Campanile di San Marco)
St. Mark, Venice

St. Mark is the tallest building in Venice (98,6 m) and ... most often chosen by lightning. For this reason, it burned down many times, was renovated, remodeled and rebuilt. During the times of the Venetian Republic, a fire was lit at the top of the tower and it also served as a lighthouse. In 1609, it was the place where Galileo presented his new invention: the telescope.
After a lightning strike in 1745, it was significantly damaged, and subsequent years of neglect caused it to collapse spontaneously on July 14, 1902. It was rebuilt with 100% faithfulness to the external appearance, but the structure itself uses the technological possibilities available in the XNUMXth century.
There is a viewpoint on the tower that can be reached by elevator.

St. Mark (Campanile di San Marco), GPS coordinates:
45°26’02.5″N 12°20’20.7″E
45.434026, 12.339073 - click and route

12. The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)
Bridge of Sighs, Venice

The romantic name of the bridge actually has nothing to do with romanticism. It is not about the sighs of lovers, but the sighs of convicted and inmates who traveled their way from the courtroom to the cell through a specially built link between the building of the Doge's Palace and the new prison.
Initially, the prison rooms (i.e. Piombi) were on the top floor, directly under the roof of the Doge's Palace. The roof coverings were made of lead plates to prevent possible escapes of prisoners. In the summer, the sun intensely heated the lead plates, significantly raising the temperature in the cells, which repeatedly led to the death of the inmates.
Some of the prison cells were also located in the palace cellars (the so-called wells, i.e. Pozzi). Here, in turn, water was often collected, the high level of which (especially during high tides) was the cause of many drownings among unsaved prisoners.
After a new prison (Prigiono Nuove) was built on the other side of the canal, the buildings were connected by a bridge, consisting of two corridors separated by a wall. The bridge allowed for fast and safe transport of convicts from the courtroom to the new prison. Condemned through the windows of the bridge, they had one last look at Venice, which often ended with a pathetic sigh.

Of course, there are many superstitions today that swimming in the gondola and kissing under the bridge guarantee success, happiness and love, and if someone additionally stands on his hands in the gondola and makes a "swallow" on his left leg, it is certain that he will be the happiest and richest in the world ... but I give you these superstitions. It is rather an element of cheap, marketing tourist folklore.

Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), GPS coordinates:
45°26’02.6″N 12°20’27.1″E
45.434064, 12.340871 - click and route

13. Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice
Clicking on the picture will take you to panoramas on Google Maps

At the Santi Giovanni e Paolo square there are two churches glued together with their corners. One of them (Scuola Grande di San Marco) has an insanely beautiful facade finished with colored marble and contrasts wonderfully with the other (Santi Giovanni e Paolo), with a much more austere facade. There is also a statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni on the square, one of the Venetian canals flows along one of the sides, and the whole beauty of the square is complemented by a bridge crossing the canal and colorful houses. The place is really very pleasant and perfect for a short break, in one of the many cafes on the square.

Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, GPS coordinates:
45°26’21.8″N 12°20’29.0″E
45.439400, 12.341382 - click and route

14. Venetian Ghetto

The memory of the Venetian ghetto is a good time to present a map of the districts of Venice. Take a look at the picture below:

Venice - map of districts

During the functioning of the Venetian Republic, the authorities forced the Jews to settle and live only in the designated area of ​​Venice. The word 'ghetto' in this sense did not exist yet. Its meaning in the sixteenth-century Venetian dialect meant "foundry" or "steelworks". This meaning, of course, was not accidental.
The area that could be inhabited by Jews was designated on one of the islands that made up Venice (the district Cannaregio). At that time, there was a steel mill and a foundry. The settlement started with the New Foundry, or Ghetto Nuovo (new ghetto), and then expanded to the area of ​​the Old Foundry, or Ghetto Vecchio (old ghetto). The resulting names are a bit misleading, because the new ghetto is actually older than the old ghetto.
It is worth noting that there was a Venetian ghetto the first in the history of the world an area of ​​ethnic isolation.
When walking through the Venetian Ghetto, pay attention to the height of the buildings. Some of them are even 7-8 storeys high and are still practically the tallest residential buildings in the city. At its peak, about 5 Jews had to fit in the limited area of ​​the ghetto, and the inability to expand the area forced the inhabitants to build such tall houses.
Currently, around 500 Jews live in Venice alone, with only a few remaining in the area of ​​the former ghetto.

Ghetto Nuovo Square with the synagogue, GPS coordinates:
45°26’43.1″N 12°19’35.6″E
45.445309, 12.326541 - click and route

15. The Tit Bridge (Ponte delle Tette)
The Tit Bridge, or the Breast Bridge, although it sounds best in Italian: Ponte delle Tette
photo source: Wikipedia

I was wondering for a long time whether to use a slightly more polite version of the name, i.e. Breast Bridge, but I decided that I would not powder the reality. If this is the literal translation, so be it. Besides, "tit" is not a common scandal, so it stays as it is.
The bridge itself is not an exceptionally beautiful place, but it has an interesting history that attracts many visitors to it.
Venice as a trading city, where for centuries the trade paths from all over the network have converged, and there were always many newcomers and people who were just passing through. Wealth and big money were our daily routine, and freedom encouraged me to act less tightly. Such Venice created the perfect conditions for the development of various services, including, of course, a huge space for the development of the oldest service in the world: prostitution. Suffice it to say that, according to the historical chronicle records written by Marina Samolo, in the period of its heyday, more than 11,5 women worked in prostitution in Venice (!!!). In terms of the number of inhabitants, there were around 150 in Venice at that time. it turns out that every twelfth resident of the city was engaged in prostitution in Venice. If it were to refer only to the female population, and not to the entire population of the city, this share would be at least twice as large. The scale of the phenomenon was impressive.
No wonder that, in the end, Venice decided to radically limit this practice by introducing appropriate regulations and prohibitions, in the form of a decree announced in 1412. About a hundred years later, however, something surprising happened.
In the XNUMXth century, in view of the rapidly growing trend among men in Venice for homosexual contacts, the city was forced to resort to the help of prostitutes. To drive young men away from same-sex love, the city allowed women to bare their breasts in public. Of course, it couldn't be done everywhere, and not everyone could. Only Venetian prostitutes could do it and only in one place: on the Cycków Bridge (Ponte delle Tette) and in the windows the surrounding tenement houses. After dark, ladies also had the right to direct light on their breasts, allowing for better exposure.
The statistics are silent on whether the plan implemented by the city and the ladies cooperating with it were successful. Tourists, however, remember it very well and visit the bridge in large numbers to this day. Perhaps they are counting on something to happen?

Tit Bridge (Ponte delle Tette), GPS coordinates:
45°26’19.8″N 12°19’51.4″E
45.438840, 12.330944 - click and route

16. Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge, Venice

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest and, for 500 years, the only permanent bridge that connects the two shores of the Grand Canal. It is a true icon of Venice and perhaps the most photographed object in the city. First, it functioned as a makeshift structure, placed on the shoulders, and then it was replaced by a structure made of wood. Unfortunately, the wooden bridge was damaged for various reasons or collapsed several times. One of the most spectacular catastrophes took place in 1444, when a crowd of onlookers gathered on the bridge to observe the retinue of the Marquise of Ferrara, daughter of Alfonso V of Aragonese, during the wedding ceremony. The bridge collapsed under the weight of the people gathered there.
It was quickly rebuilt, but after 80 years of operation, it collapsed again. When, after another rebuilding in 1578, it collapsed again (probably for the fourth time), this time only surviving 10 years, the city finally decided to spend money on a stone structure. 6000 (yes, six thousand) oak piles were driven under each of the bridge supports on both banks of the canal, and the structure of the 48-meter-long and 22-meter-wide stone bridge, which we can admire in good condition, was supported on them.
The bridge is beautiful and fits in perfectly with the architecture of Venice. It looks like a natural continuation of the arcaded facades of the buildings adjacent to the Grand Canal. It has three rows of stairs, between which there are two rows of small jewelry and souvenir shops.
It is always crowded in this place, but it is worth climbing the bridge, because it is a great viewpoint over the Grand Canal. From this place, beautiful souvenir photos are often created.

Rialto Bridge, GPS coordinates:
45°26’16.7″N 12°20’09.5″E
45.437981, 12.335969 - click and route

17. Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Fragment of the staircase in Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. There are six floors.

The most beautiful stairs in Venice - as the spiral staircase at the Contarini del Bovolo Palace is often called - were not immediately an integral part of the building. Their construction was commissioned by Pietro Contarini, who bought the palace in 1489 and was looking for a way to improve its appearance, which in its original form was not satisfactory for him.
The snail staircase (the meaning of the word Bovolo in Venetian dialect means snail) is six stories high and ends with an observation deck, which is one of the coolest vantage points over Venice and its rooftops.
When going up the stairs, note that with the successive floors (similar to the snail shell) the height of the arcaded arches decreases. Changing the height of the arches when observing the cage from ground level creates an optical illusion, giving the impression that the spiral cage is much taller than it actually is.

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, GPS coordinates:
45°26’05.5″N 12°20’04.4″E
45.434854, 12.334542 - click and route

18. Academy Bridge (Ponte dell'Accademia)
Academy Bridge, Venice

The Academy Bridge appears to be wooden at first glance (which doesn't bode well, especially when you get acquainted with the history of the Rialto Bridge described above), but luckily it isn't. The first bridge in this place was built during the last Austrian occupation of Venice (1848-1866). It had the form of a single, metal beam. After about 80 years of use, it turned out that the metal could not withstand the Venetian moisture. The structure was in danger of collapsing and the idea was to build a stone bridge. Meanwhile, the clever engineer Eugenio Miozzi built a new bridge out of wood in just 37 days. As it turned out, the construction he invented and realized was so good that it stayed forever. In the meantime, since 1933, the bridge has undergone several maintenance works and the main supporting arches were replaced with metal ones, but the bridge itself remained the same.
It is possible that if there were already "ties" in the 30s, Eugenio Miozzi would have invented a construction on "ties" that would survive without maintenance until today.
However, it is worth crossing the Akademia Bridge not for the thrill of whether it will collapse or not, but for the fact that it offers one of the most spectacular views of the Grand Canal. It is a must-see for lovers of beautiful souvenir photos.

View from the Academy Bridge, Venice

Academy Bridge (Ponte dell'Accademia), GPS coordinates:
45°25’54.2″N 12°19’44.2″E
45.431711, 12.328951 - click and route

19. Gallery of the Academy (Gallerie dell'Accademia)

A must for art lovers. Gallerie dell'Accademia is the world's largest collection of Venetian art, presenting mainly paintings from the XNUMXth to XNUMXth centuries.
The gallery's collection includes, among others such works as: The Vitruvian Man (Leonardo da Vinci), Presentation of Mary in the Temple (Titian), Pieta (Titian), St. John the Baptist (Titian) or Perspektywy with a portico (Canaletto).

Academy Gallery (Gallerie dell'Accademia) main entrance, GPS coordinates:
45°25’53.2″N 12°19’41.1″E
45.431450, 12.328095 - click and route

20. Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute
View from the Academy Bridge to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice

During the plague epidemic, more than 30% of Venice's population died. Saved from death, in gratitude for saving themselves and the city, they decided to build a huge church. This is how the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute was created. Until today, every year on November 21 from St. Mark starts a procession that passes through the Grand Canal through the Grand Canal to the basilica through a specially built pontoon bridge. The procession takes place for the health of the city.

Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, GPS coordinates:
45°25’51.0″N 12°20’04.8″E
45.430831, 12.334679 - click and route

21. Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali)

Walking in accordance with the plan I have proposed, it will be the last point of the hiking trip, which should give you some respite. Ogrody Królewskie is a small green square of land abundantly covered with ornamental plants and flowers. In a city like Venice, which is filled with stone on almost every square centimeter of dry land, this piece of greenery is like a world separate from the city. Entering the garden, you get the impression that you have teleported to another reality. The shade created by greenery provides perfect conditions for rest after a long and eventful day.
The gardens have only recently been opened to tourists. Admission to them is open to everyone and free of charge.

Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali), GPS coordinates:
45°25’57.7″N 12°20’16.7″E
45.432694, 12.337975 - click and route

Burano - the island of colors

Burano

After visiting Venice, it is unlikely that you will have enough time, let alone energy, to visit one of the neighboring islands: Burano. However, I assume that based on my tips, you can create your own plan that will take into account the time needed to visit Burano. Burano is a fabulously colorful, fantastic piece of land where time and life unfold completely differently than in Venice, despite the fact that they have been functioning for centuries on the same lagoon and so close to each other.
People who come to Venice for two days, often spend one day exploring the city and the other day visiting the islands: Murano i Burano.

There are two lines on Burano, one is permanent and the other is seasonal. They also differ in the duration of the cruise and, of course, the route.
I marked the location of both terminals on the sightseeing map in the first part of the post. As you can see, the line 12 terminal is in the Cannaregio district, and the 14 terminal is close to Piazza San Marco. Mark.

Vaporetto line no.12
Starting stop: Fondamente Nove terminal "A" (abbreviated as F.te Nove "A")
Cruise time: about 1 h
Course schedule: vaporetto courses table - [click]

F.te Nove Terminal “A” - line 12 vaporetto, GPS coordinates:
45°26’38.0″N 12°20’20.8″E
45.443886, 12.339111 - click and route

Vaporetto line 14 (seasonal line)
Starting stop: San Marco - San Zaccaria terminal "F"
Cruise time: about 1,5 h
Course schedule: vaporetto courses table - [click]

San Marco Terminal - San Zaccaria "F" - vaporetto line 14, GPS coordinates:
45°26’00.8″N 12°20’31.4″E
45.433551, 12.342065 - click and route

Murano - the Venetian glass basin

Murano

The second island eagerly visited by tourists, located on a lagoon in the vicinity of Venice, is the capital of Venetian glass, i.e. Murano. Completely different from Burano, it has its own specific atmosphere and charm. If you have the right amount of time, it is undoubtedly worth anchoring here even for a moment.
Murano is definitely closer to Venice than Burano (you can get here even in half an hour) and has definitely more connections.

From the vaporetto Fondamente Nove stop lines: 4.1, 4.2, 12, 13 float here
From the San Marco - San Zaccaria vaporetto stop line flows: 7

Venice - accommodation

Accommodation in Venice is not cheap and it is practically impossible to find accommodation for less than EUR 100 per night for a double room. However, at a price of just over EUR 100, the choice is quite large. It all depends, of course, at what point in the season you search, but if you start quite early (even a few months earlier), the probability of success is high. On the other hand, if you look at it differently, it will turn out that, for example, in Venice is much more expensive than in Venice Barcelona.
Either way, if you have the option and can afford to pay around EUR 150 a night in Venice, it is definitely worth doing.
Below are some examples of accommodation offers that I found in a few minutes while writing this post. As you can see the prices do not bring you to your knees, but the quality of accommodation is really high. I think that these suggestions are a very good starting point for your own research. Clicking on the image or link will take you to the page with the offer and a list of similar offers in a similar price class. Click, search, and maybe you'll just find something for yourself? The probability is high.

B&B San Firmino - [click]

La Capannaccia Venice - [click]

Luxury Venetian Rooms - [click]

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Pozdrawiam




33 comments for "Venice - sightseeing plan - map, attractions, monuments, gondolas, accommodation, interesting facts"

  • o
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    Great description, for me the best information I found on the internet. I wanted someone to tell step by step which way I should go, including which side I have water on when I go to my destination. Really the best guide. No questions, I know everything, thank you. I'm not afraid anymore, I'm going to Venice in a week.

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    • o
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      In October, the conditions for sightseeing are usually perfect! Good luck and have a nice time !!!

      Reply
      • o
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        Really great descriptions. Everything I was looking for, plus a lightweight pen. A very big help in planning Venice. I visited it 50 years ago, but thanks to your descriptions, many memories came back. I want to see murano and burano too. Thanks for the help

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        • o
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          Thank you very much for this blog. He was very helpful. Regards

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        • o
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          Great description, it was more useful when sightseeing and the map with active points is the best, thank you very much, we used it 🙂
          Pozdrawiam
          Magda

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      • o
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        I'm flying to Venice on Thursday for 2 days. I'm going to use this description and plan my time… great :)
        The only thing that keeps me awake at night is that my return flight is on Saturday at 7 a.m. and I don't know how to get out of Venice so early... UPS...🤔

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  • o
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    Maybe the Lord will help me - I just don't understand how to buy a card for a child up to 29 Rolling Venice online?

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    • o
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      I admit that I haven't practiced it and I just don't know. I will not try to advise you because I simply do not want to mislead you.

      Reply
      • o
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        OK, thank you very much. Your information is really great, I have already recommended a few people who are planning to visit Venice
        pozdrawiam

        Reply
  • o
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    Hello,
    Thanks for the beautiful and wonderful description, my wife and I are going to Venice for 3 days and this is the best description I found on the web, exactly the way I like it 🙂
    We will definitely use your route.
    Best Regards

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  • o
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    I enjoyed reading it. Lots of relevant information presented in excellent form. Very useful whether you plan to stay in Venice for one day or more.

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  • o
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    Thank you ... it's a fantastic description ... it will certainly accompany me during my 3-day stay. Well done! Congratulations and tourist greetings 😉

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    • o
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      This is a perfect description for me 😊 detailed information, lots of interesting facts and everything presented in an accessible way 😊 I will use and come back 😊

      Reply
  • o
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    This wonderfully simple guide allowed me to tame Venice in my mind. Chicor before departure, and that's in a few days. Thank you for leaning on green tourists like me.

    Reply
  • o
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    Jack, great message! I'm only going to Venice for the long weekend in May, but from the descriptions I already know what I want to see and how to get there! Thank you very much for the good tips and curiosities, and above all for the detailed information. I'll comment on the rest when I get back!

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  • o
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    Good morning Mr Jack! Thank you so much for the Venice guide! It is true that I will spend there only two days, but with your help, it will be a wonderful time for me! From my side you receive five strong STARS!

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  • o
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    Super detailed itinerary! My question is how long does it take to walk the whole thing? 😀
    Regards!

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    • o
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      The length of the entire route, which is covered on foot (marked with red dots on the map), is 8,2 km, so just walking it without stopping will take less than 2 hours. link: walking time on google maps - [click]

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  • o
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    Fantastic description! Without pouring water, specifics and a step-by-step route. Thank you for making it easier to plan a trip 🙂

    Reply
    • o
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      Thanks to the guide, I visited Venice in one day 🙂 very useful information, it's nice to read, thank you very much that I could use the transparent guide for free, I recommend it to everyone 🙂

      Reply
  • o
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    Something beautiful, a guide "made for me" described with photos, something like this I needed for my first independent trip with poor knowledge of English

    Reply
  • o
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    A great and factual guide to Venice showing the essence of this city. Thanks to you, I have a plan for the next visit to this place and getting to know the nooks and crannies I have not yet reached. Good job! Thank you 🙂

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  • o
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    great description. I am going to Venice in September. I will most definitely be using it.

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  • o
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    Great guide + active map = Wow!
    I haven't seen instructions prepared this way before.
    Bravo for your professionalism and usefulness.
    We are going in October for two days, even though it was initially supposed to be one.
    Good luck with your current activities!

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  • o
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    A lot of valuable information, very professionally prepared material. I will definitely use it in March!

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  • o
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    Great descriptions. Briefly concise and to the point. I am using your guides once again when planning various short escapades and I will definitely use them in the future :)
    Pozdrawiam

    Reply
  • o
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    sensational description, beautiful photos, simply EXTRA prepared trip, super described information, bravo for professionalism, I will be happy to use it, because I have a choice, best regards and THANK YOU BIG

    Reply

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